Teen charged in filmed punching of homeless man at CTA stop

Defendant's friends filmed the April attack, authorities say

November 25, 2011|By Brian Slodysko, Chicago Tribune reporter

Scotty Strahan, 18, of the 8600 block of South Normal Avenue in Chicago, has been charged with decking a man at a downtown CTA station in an incident recently posted on the Internet that prompted a citywide search for the attacker. (handout, Chicago Police Dept.)

Bail was set at $10,000 Thursday for a Chicago man who was filmed punching out a 56-year-old homeless man at a CTA Red Line stop in April, authorities said.

Scotty Strahan, 18, approached the man at the Chicago Avenue stop and punched him in the face while Strahan's friends filmed the attack, according to police and prosecutors.

The recording, which was recently posted to the Internet, prompted a citywide search for the attacker. In the film, a man with salt-and-pepper hair is shown knocked out on the ground as Strahan and his friends board a train.

The man was treated in a hospital but did not suffer lasting effects, said Assistant State's Attorney William Hall.

After the video emerged online, police tracked down the homeless man, who signed a criminal complaint. Strahan, of the 8600 block of South Normal Avenue, turned himself in Nov. 21, police said. He was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery.